Pekanbaru facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pekanbaru
City
City of Pekanbaru Kota Pekanbaru
Other transcription(s)
• Jawi	ڤكنبارو‎
From top left to right: Pekanbaru Skyline, Anjung Seni Idrus Tintin, Riau Main Stadium, Soeman HS Library, University of Riau
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  "PKU", "Pekan", "Pokan", "Pekanbaru", “Pekanbaghu”, "Kota Pekanbaru", "Kota Bertuah",
Location of Pekanbaru in Indonesia
Country	Indonesia
Region	Sumatra
Province	Riau
Founded	22 June 1784
Area
• Total	632.26 km2 (244.12 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	1,123,348
• Density	1,776.718/km2 (4,601.68/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Minang 35.00% Malay 29.10% Javanese 14.60% Batak 11.04% Chinese 2.50%
• Religion	Islam 84.88% Protestant Christianity 9.60% Buddhism 3.47% Catholic Christianity 1.26% Hinduism 0.03% Confucianism 0.03% Others 0.01%
• HDI (2022)	0.821 (Very High)
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Postal code	28131
Area code(s)	+62 761
Vehicle registration	BM

Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Riau province in Indonesia. It's a big economic center on the eastern side of Sumatra Island. The name "Pekanbaru" comes from Malay words meaning 'new market'.

The city covers an area of about 632 square kilometers. In mid-2023, its population was estimated to be over 1.1 million people. Pekanbaru is located on the banks of the Siak River, which flows into the Strait of Malacca. This location has made it an important trading port for a long time.

A settlement has been here since the 1600s. In the late 1800s, the city grew because of the coffee and coal industries. The Dutch built roads to help transport goods to Singapore and Malacca. Today, Pekanbaru has an airport called Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport and a port called Sungai Duku.

Understanding Pekanbaru's Name

The name "Pekanbaru" means "new market" in the Malay language. The word "pekan" means market, and "baru" means new.

Before it was called Pekanbaru, the area was known as "Senapelan." Over time, this area grew into a new place where people lived. On June 23, 1784, Sultan Muhammad Ali Abdul Jalil Muazamsyah officially named the area Pekanbaru. This date is now celebrated as the city's anniversary.

Pekanbaru's History

The history of Pekanbaru is closely linked to the Siak River. This river was a key route for goods traveling from the Minangkabau Highlands to the Strait of Malacca. In the 18th century, the Senapelan area along the Siak River became a busy market for Minangkabau traders.

As more people came, the area became a crowded place to live. On June 23, 1784, leaders from the Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura officially named the area Pekanbaru. This day is now the city's anniversary.

Sultan Syarif Kasim II of Siak and his wife, 1910–1920. He was the last Sultan of Siak.

Dutch East Indies Era

After the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ended, the Dutch government took control of Pekanbaru. During the Dutch East Indies colonial period in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city remained important. It was a major trading point because the Siak River allowed ships to connect with the Malacca Strait.

Pekanbaru also became a big center for the coffee and coal industries. The local sultans had less power, and Dutch officials managed the city.

Second World War and the Railway

During Second World War, from 1942 to 1945, Japanese forces took control of Pekanbaru. To help their military, the Japanese started building a 220-kilometer-long railway. This railway was meant to connect Pekanbaru to the coast of the Malacca Straits.

The Pekanbaru Railway was built under very difficult conditions. Many prisoners of war and local workers were forced to work on it. They faced tough challenges, including illness and lack of proper food. By the time the railway was finished in 1945, many had sadly passed away. The railway was never fully used and is now unused.

Modern Indonesian Era

After Indonesian independence, Pekanbaru became an official administrative city in 1956. In 1959, it was chosen as the capital of the new Riau province.

City's Reputation

Soeman HS Library, a large library in Sumatra Island.

Pekanbaru is known as one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia. It has received awards for being a "cleanest city" multiple times.

People and Cultures

Ethnic Groups in Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru is the third most populated city on Sumatra Island. Its population was estimated to be over 1.1 million in mid-2023. Many people have moved to Pekanbaru from the nearby province of West Sumatra.

The Minangkabau have migrated to Pekanbaru for centuries. After World War II, even more Minangkabau people moved here. The Riau Malays are the second largest group. Other main groups include the Javanese, Batak, and Tionghoa.

Religions in Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru is a city where many different religions are practiced freely. Islam is the main religion. Other religions include Christianity (Protestant and Catholic), Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

Each religion has its own places of worship. For example, Muslims have the An-Nur Great Mosque. Christians have St. Maria A Fatima Church. Buddhists have Vihara Dhamma Metta Arama. Hindus have Pura Agung Jagatnatha.

Languages Spoken

Indonesian is the official language in Pekanbaru. For everyday conversations, many people use the Minangkabau language, especially in market areas.

Malay language and Javanese are also widely spoken because many Malays and Javanese people live here. The Hokkien language is mainly spoken by Tionghoa people, especially those from the Hokkien group.

City Districts

Pekanbaru is divided into fifteen administrative districts. These districts are called kecamatan in Indonesian. Each district has several urban villages, known as kelurahan.

Pekanbaru's Climate

Pekanbaru has a tropical rainforest climate. This means the temperature stays pretty much the same all year round. The hottest month is May, and the coolest is January.

It rains a lot throughout the year, with no real dry season. November usually gets the most rain, while July gets the least.

Pekanbaru's Economy

Pekanbaru's economy relies a lot on petroleum (oil). Oil was found in the region in the 1930s. Riau province produces most of Indonesia's oil. Many international oil companies, like Chevron, have offices here.

The city is connected by road to Dumai, a port where oil is refined and shipped. Oil companies have helped pay for many important buildings and roads in Pekanbaru.

Pekanbaru is also a popular stop for tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. They often visit before traveling to other parts of Sumatra. The Pasar Pusat (Central Market) is a great place for food and household goods. Pasar Bawah and Pasar Tengah are known for Chinese goods like ceramics and carpets.

Many shopping malls have been built in Pekanbaru. New housing areas have also grown, especially in the "Panam" area.

Getting Around Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru has many ways to get around, like taxis, buses, and motorcycle taxis (ojek). There's also a bus rapid transit system called Trans Metro Pekanbaru.

However, with more and more vehicles, traffic can get busy on some main roads, especially on weekends. The city government is working on plans to help with traffic in the future.

Land Transportation

For traveling by land, Pekanbaru is connected to other cities like Padang, Medan, and Jambi by the Bandar Raya Payung Sekaki Bus Terminal. This terminal opened in 2007.

River Transportation

The Port of Sungai Duku is on the Siak River. It connects Pekanbaru to other areas in Riau Province and the Riau Islands, like Batam. In the past, ferries used to travel from here directly to Malacca in Malaysia.

Air Transportation

Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport of Pekanbaru.

Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport serves flights to many cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta and Surabaya. It also has international flights to countries like Malaysia and Singapore. Many different airlines fly to and from Pekanbaru.

A new airport terminal opened in 2012. The old terminal will be removed to make more space for planes. The airport is also used by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) as an airbase.

Education in Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru has both formal schools and informal learning opportunities. The city uses a "zonation" system to assign new students to public schools.

Sports in Pekanbaru

Football is very popular in Indonesia. In Pekanbaru, PSPS Pekanbaru is the local football club. They play at the Kaharudin Nasution Sport Center Rumbai Stadium.

In 2012, Riau Province hosted big sports events like the Indonesian National Games. Because of this, many new sports facilities were built in Pekanbaru, including the Riau Main Stadium. However, some of these facilities are not used or maintained well today. For example, the Riau Main Stadium has not been used much since the event.

Pekanbaru also has several golf courses, such as Pekanbaru Golf Course Country Club.

Media and News

Pekanbaru has local television stations like TVRI Riau and Riau TV. There are also several local newspapers, including Riau Pos and Tribun Pekanbaru.

Sister Cities

Pekanbaru has friendly relationships with several cities around the world. These are called "sister cities."

Sister town/cities	Country
Malacca City	Malaysia
Zamboanga City	Philippines
Davao City	Philippines
Chongqing	China
Liuzhou	China
Quebec City	Canada
Suwon	South Korea
Fukushima City	Japan
Daegu	South Korea
San Jose, California	United States
Utrecht	Netherlands
Atlanta	United States
Da Nang	Vietnam
Batam	Indonesia
Bandung	Indonesia
Bandar Lampung	Indonesia
Jeddah	Saudi Arabia

See also

In Spanish: Pekanbaru para niños